[ckinge]

Hi,

I have a 2014 TDI Sport with Nav with about 1,500 miles on the vehicle. Everything seems to be working great. The only thing I have noticed is that, when I take my hands off the steering wheel, the vehicle starts to drift to the right. I assume this is an alignment issue.

I only notice this on long trips, as I have to apply a bit of pressure on the steering wheel to keep the vehicle straight. Also, I have not experienced any steering wheel shake, and I do not want to do anything that might introduce that issue.

Are alignment issues such as this typical? Are these relatively easy to fix? If so, should I take it to the dealer to see if they can fix it, or should I not worry about it at this point?

Thank you in advance for your help.


Chad

 

[fincher]

This is typical for me, too. I notice it more on streets since most here have a slight grade to the right for drainage. Kinda used to it.

Maybe it's by design?

 

[fleabag]

Two weeks into my new to me 2011 hybrid and I've already had it back into the dealer for an alignment. My car also drifts to the right and it's not right :-O

I've had many many vehicles and I understand the need to keep cars from drifting into head on traffic but I don't want to be in the ditch either.

Dealer's new alignment machine said the toe was out on the right side and it's now within specs. Really? It's still the same, drifting to the right. Let go of the wheel and it's immediate, not gradual which has been my experience with most cars. It's not even fun to drive.

 

[fleabag]

Two weeks into my new to me 2011 hybrid and I've already had it back into the dealer for an alignment. My car also drifts to the right and it's not right :-O

I've had many many vehicles and I understand the need to keep cars from drifting into head on traffic but I don't want to be in the ditch either.

Dealer's new alignment machine said the toe was out on the right side and it's now within specs. Really? It's still the same, drifting to the right. Let go of the wheel and it's immediate, not gradual which has been my experience with most cars. It's not even fun to drive.

I should clarify that while driving on the freeway it's immediate, tooling around the neighborhood I don't really notice it...

 

[Smallboy]

I don't know how much it is drifting and of cause it can be to much. But roads are not totally flat and level. They very often have an angle towards the edges and tracks from heavy vehicles. And the wind will also have an influence. Therefore you will never have a car going in a straight line for very long. Never.

 

[fleabag]

Seems there is a lot of chatter about this on this site. Time to do a little reading. I do understand about road crown, etc. But none of my cars ever drifted like this, but I've never owned a vehicle this big or wide so maybe it's me.

 

[noobytoogy]

It's more then chatter.

Good luck finding a dealer who can fix it.

 

[VWBobNY]

My 2011 VR6 does the same drift to right, last Thursday went to a shop that did an excellent alignment on my 08 Passat recently so I was hoping for similar results with the Touareg. Unfortunately it still pulls to the right but it does track better at 75mph on the highway. Going back on Wednesday and they are going to try and get RF Caster into spec and see what they can do about the pull to the right issue.
Below is my print out.

Maybe the wheel alignment specs are not correct from VW?

 

[Eugene-Dave-1]

The Touareg tends to want to follow the crown of the road, which is usually to the right for drainage. This is completely normal. Other VWs like the Tiguan and my Golf R don't do this to the same extent as the Touareg. I've had 3 Touaregs and all 3 tend(ed) to drift in the direction of the pavement drainage side which is almost always to the right in a left-drive country.

 

[ConservativeConsumer]

The Touareg tends to want to follow the crown of the road, which is usually to the right for drainage. This is completely normal. Other VWs like the Tiguan and my Golf R don't do this to the same extent as the Touareg. I've had 3 Touaregs and all 3 tend(ed) to drift in the direction of the pavement drainage side which is almost always to the right in a left-drive country.

+1!
Wider, divided highways with 2-3 or more lanes in one direction often do slope on both sides. Driving in left lane on such a highway creates slight drift to the left. Also, in the States with colder climate the road surface in most ice-prone sections of highway can be slit-cut or sipe-cut by analogy with tires. The direction of slit cutting is sometimes diagonal and this might create slight side drift too. However, these "environmental" drifts are rare, most of highway driving for me is almost auto-pilot straight with no noticeable drifts to either side.

 

[SamT]

If this happens only after a long trip then it may not be alignment. If it was alignment I would think the truck pulls to the right starting cold.

Were the tires equally inflated? Use an IR thermometer to check rotor temperatures.

I do not think VW covers alignment. At least they did not several years ago. I would bring it up and have the writer document the "problem".

Find a large flat parking lot and try it there.

Hi,

I have a 2014 TDI Sport with Nav with about 1,500 miles on the vehicle. Everything seems to be working great. The only thing I have noticed is that, when I take my hands off the steering wheel, the vehicle starts to drift to the right. I assume this is an alignment issue.

I only notice this on long trips, as I have to apply a bit of pressure on the steering wheel to keep the vehicle straight. Also, I have not experienced any steering wheel shake, and I do not want to do anything that might introduce that issue.

 

[Eugene-Dave-1]

Thinking about this more, every SUV I've had has done this "drift to the right" or "drift to the slope of the pavement" thing. Two Pathfinders (1993 & 2007) and a 4-Runner (1999). It's relatively rare for open highway pavement to be perfectly flat because it causes poor water drainage and hydroplaning. And then there's pavement grooving.

Absolutely agree, make sure the tire pressure is the same across L/R Front and L/R Rear.

 

[Terapin]

+1!
Wider, divided highways with 2-3 or more lanes in one direction often do slope on both sides. Driving in left lane on such a highway creates slight drift to the left. Also, in the States with colder climate the road surface in most ice-prone sections of highway can be slit-cut or sipe-cut by analogy with tires. The direction of slit cutting is sometimes diagonal and this might create slight side drift too. However, these "environmental" drifts are rare, most of highway driving for me is almost auto-pilot straight with no noticeable drifts to either side.

+2 on these two guys. The T-reg is a very particular and very sensitive. Unlike other vehicles that are much more forgiving. But if the alignment shop tells you that it's within spec, but still "off" by a little bit, insist that they get it "dead on, balls accurate" (it's an industry term). There is no "close enough" when dealing with a T-reg. It will make a difference. Been there, done that.

Sometimes you need to take the shop owner aside and explain that you are not going away till the alignment is correct....so put your best guy on it. This all assumes you have new or near new tires without any wear that would throw off the alignment. In that case, swap the right and left tires and see if that cures the drift.

 

[chrisw]

My 2011 VR6 does the same drift to right, last Thursday went to a shop that did an excellent alignment on my 08 Passat recently so I was hoping for similar results with the Touareg. Unfortunately it still pulls to the right but it does track better at 75mph on the highway. Going back on Wednesday and they are going to try and get RF Caster into spec and see what they can do about the pull to the right issue.
Below is my print out.

Maybe the wheel alignment specs are not correct from VW?

that alignment is terrible.... I could do a better job in my garage.. (seriously, I do a lot of my own alignments on my track car)

The front is just ok, but the rear camber and toe are way off.

 

[fleabag]

VE Service Mgr

I spoke with my local VW service manager. He came over from Audi and heard the same complaints there with the Audi's. He also told me his personal vehicle also drifts to the right. Looks like that's the way it is...

 

[tadpole]

My 2012 TDI is right on straight. I have taken it on 4 Ne to SW FL trips of 1500 miles each way and didn't notice any pull. My wife drives part of the time and has never mentioned any pull,which she would if it caused her to have hold the wheel to prevent a drift . I also have no vibration and never have had that maladay either. My good luck I guess.

 

[ckinge]

I checked the tire pressure, and all the tires are right at the recommended level. I also drove the touareg in several flat parking lots, and there still was a consistent drift to the right.

I am getting the alignment checked tomorrow. Is there anything I should tell them or have them check/do in particular?

Thanks,

Chad

 

[Lawrence910]

I checked the tire pressure, and all the tires are right at the recommended level. I also drove the touareg in several flat parking lots, and there still was a consistent drift to the right.

I am getting the alignment checked tomorrow. Is there anything I should tell them or have them check/do in particular?

Thanks,

Chad

What is the suggested tire pressure reading? Both front and rear.
Thanks..

 

[N2VW]

Yikes this is troubling for a prospective buyer to read... I dont think this should be considered normal behavior for a vehicle. Someone mentioned there needing to be a drift to the right so that the vehicle doesnt drift into oncoming traffic, but that shouldnt be the case. The vehicle can and should just track straight with no drift in either direction. My 2012 Nissan doesnt drift at all FWIW.

 

[raducris]

My 2012 Touareg TDI does the same thing: it's drifting to the right and I have to constantly correct the steering wheel to keep it straight.
I had the car for 7 months now. Originally, it came with 20" wheels but I decided I wanted 18" so I had them replaced with 18" with brand new Continental Pro tires, purchased form VW Oakville, ON. Two months and 1500 Km after it's when I started to notice the drifting to the right.
Long story short, after 3 wheel alignments (last two at VW Oakville) in the last 6 weeks, all "within manufacturer's specs", the car is behaving no different than before. They keep telling me that my alignment is perfect and that the issue might be in tires (sold by them, brand new). I rotated the tires and still no difference. I even swapped my wheels with another T-reg with 20" wheels that was driving straight (even with my wheels). Nothing changed.
VW Oakville says they have to do this test themselves to believe it (on my dime, of course). I asked what happens next, if my tires pass the test. No answer. Actually no reply from them for the past 10 days.
Is there anyone who had this problem fixed? Could it be from the power steering or the steering rack?